Self-cleaning water pipe

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a self-cleaning water pipe including a secondary pipe that directs a stream of filtered water to the top of the main pipe. The stream of water is introduced to the main pipe proximate or adjacent to the mouthpiece in a lateral direction so as to cover the entire inner surface of the main pipe with a water membrane. The water membrane presents a barrier to smoke residue and particulates from being deposited on the inner surface of the main pipe. A tertiary pipe may also introduce a stream of water to a downstem pipe so as to create a similar water membrane in the downstem pipe.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. Self-cleaning water pipe comprising:
 a pump unit in fluid communication with a water chamber in the water pipe; and 
 a secondary pipe having a first end in fluid communication with the pump unit and a second end connected to a secondary inlet proximate to a mouthpiece on the water pipe and in fluid communication with a smoke chamber in the water pipe, wherein the smoke chamber is in fluid communication with the water chamber. 
 
     
     
       2. The self-cleaning water pipe of  claim 1 , further comprising a filter unit disposed between and in fluid communication with the water chamber and the pump unit. 
     
     
       3. The self-cleaning water pipe of  claim 1 , wherein the water pipe comprises a main pipe having the mouthpiece, smoke chamber, and water chamber all in fluid communication. 
     
     
       4. The self-cleaning water pipe of  claim 1 , further comprising a downstem pipe passing through a sidewall of and in fluid communication with the water chamber. 
     
     
       5. The self-cleaning water pipe of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary inlet is connected to the water pipe immediately adjacent to the mouthpiece. 
     
     
       6. The self-cleaning water pipe of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary inlet is connected to the water pipe at an approximately tangential angle relative to a side of the smoke chamber. 
     
     
       7. The self-cleaning water pipe of  claim 6 , wherein the secondary pipe is configured to inject water into the smoke chamber in a generally lateral orientation relative to a central axis of the smoke chamber. 
     
     
       8. The self-cleaning water pipe of  claim 4 , further comprising a tertiary pipe having a first end in fluid communication with the pump unit and a second end connected to a tertiary inlet proximate to the first end of the downstem pipe and in fluid communication an interior of the downstem pipe. 
     
     
       9. The self-cleaning water pipe of  claim 1 , wherein the pump unit is adapted to force liquid through the secondary pipe to the secondary inlet under sufficient pressure such that the liquid swirls completely around an interior surface of the smoke chamber proximate to the mouthpiece. 
     
     
       10. The self-cleaning water pipe of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary pipe wraps around the main pipe in a helix. 
     
     
       11. The self-cleaning water pipe of  claim 2 , wherein the water pipe comprises a main pipe having the mouthpiece, smoke chamber, and water chamber all in fluid communication. 
     
     
       12. The self-cleaning water pipe of  claim 2 , further comprising a downstem pipe passing through a sidewall of and in fluid communication with the water chamber. 
     
     
       13. The self-cleaning water pipe of  claim 2 , wherein the secondary inlet is connected to the water pipe immediately adjacent to the mouthpiece. 
     
     
       14. The self-cleaning water pipe of  claim 2 , wherein the secondary inlet is connected to the water pipe at an approximately tangential angle relative to a side of the smoke chamber. 
     
     
       15. The self-cleaning water pipe of  claim 14 , wherein the secondary pipe is configured to inject water into the smoke chamber in a generally lateral orientation relative to a central axis of the smoke chamber. 
     
     
       16. The self-cleaning water pipe of  claim 12 , further comprising a tertiary pipe having a first end in fluid communication with the pump unit and a second end connected to a tertiary inlet proximate to the first end of the downstem pipe and in fluid communication an interior of the downstem pipe. 
     
     
       17. The self-cleaning water pipe of  claim 2 , wherein the pump unit is adapted to force liquid through the secondary pipe to the secondary inlet under sufficient pressure such that the liquid swirls completely around an interior surface of the smoke chamber proximate to the mouthpiece. 
     
     
       18. The self-cleaning water pipe of  claim 2 , wherein the secondary pipe wraps around the main pipe in a helix.